Subdivision 1. Action for damages. Notwithstanding section 466.03, a responsible authority or government entity which violates any provision of this chapter is liable to a person or representative of a decedent who suffers any damage as a result of the violation, and the person damaged or a representative in the case of private data on decedents or confidential data on decedents may bring an action against the responsible authority or government entity to cover any damages sustained, plus costs and reasonable attorney fees. In the case of a willful violation, the government entity shall, in addition, be liable to exemplary damages of not less than $1,000, nor more than $15,000 for each violation. The state is deemed to have waived any immunity to a cause of action brought under this chapter.
Subd. 2. Injunction. A responsible authority or government entity which violates or proposes to violate this chapter may be enjoined by the district court. The court may make any order or judgment as may be necessary to prevent the use or employment by any person of any practices which violate this chapter.
Subd. 3. Venue. An action filed pursuant to this section may be commenced in the county in which the individual alleging damage or seeking relief resides, or in the county wherein the political subdivision exists, or, in the case of the state, any county.
Subd. 4. Action to compel compliance. (a) Actions to compel compliance may be brought either under this subdivision or section 13.085. For actions under this subdivision, in addition to the remedies provided in subdivisions 1 to 3 or any other law, any aggrieved person seeking to enforce the person's rights under this chapter or obtain access to data may bring an action in district court to compel compliance with this chapter and may recover costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's fees, as determined by the court. If the court determines that an action brought under this subdivision is frivolous and without merit and a basis in fact, it may award reasonable costs and attorney fees to the responsible authority. If the court issues an order to compel compliance under this subdivision, the court may impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 against the government entity. This penalty is payable to the state general fund and is in addition to damages under subdivision 1. The matter shall be heard as soon as possible. In an action involving a request for government data under section 13.03 or 13.04, the court may inspect in camera the government data in dispute, but shall conduct its hearing in public and in a manner that protects the security of data classified as not public. If the court issues an order to compel compliance under this subdivision, the court shall forward a copy of the order to the commissioner of administration.
(b) In determining whether to assess a civil penalty under this subdivision, the court or other tribunal shall consider whether the government entity has substantially complied with general data practices under this chapter, including but not limited to, whether the government entity has:
(1) designated a responsible authority under section 13.02, subdivision 16;
(2) designated a data practices compliance official under section 13.05, subdivision 13;
(3) prepared the data inventory that names the responsible authority and describes the records and data on individuals that are maintained by the government entity under section 13.025, subdivision 1;
(4) developed public access procedures under section 13.03, subdivision 2; procedures to guarantee the rights of data subjects under section 13.025, subdivision 3; and procedures to ensure that data on individuals are accurate and complete and to safeguard the data's security under section 13.05, subdivision 5;
(5) acted in conformity with an opinion issued under section 13.072 that was sought by a government entity or another person; or
(6) provided ongoing training to government entity personnel who respond to requests under this chapter.
(c) The court shall award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff who has brought an action under this subdivision if the government entity that is the defendant in the action was also the subject of a written opinion issued under section 13.072 and the court finds that the opinion is directly related to the cause of action being litigated and that the government entity did not act in conformity with the opinion.
Subd. 5. Immunity from liability. A government entity or person that releases not public data pursuant to an order under section 13.03, subdivision 6, is immune from civil and criminal liability.
Subd. 6. Immunity from liability; personnel settlement. No cause of action may arise as a result of the release of data contained in a termination or personnel settlement agreement if the data were not public data as defined in section 13.02, at the time the agreement was executed but become public data under a law enacted after execution.
1974 c 479 s 5; 1975 c 401 s 5; 1976 c 239 s 4,5; 1979 c 328 s 14; 1980 c 603 s 13; 1981 c 311 s 39; 1Sp1981 c 4 art 1 s 8-10; 1982 c 545 s 24; 1985 c 298 s 5,6; 1986 c 444; 1991 c 319 s 30; 1999 c 227 s 22; 2000 c 468 s 8; 2001 c 202 s 3; 1Sp2003 c 8 art 2 s 3; 2005 c 163 s 29-31; 2007 c 129 s 8; 2008 c 315 s 3,4; 2010 c 297 s 2; 2013 c 125 art 1 s 1; 2016 c 158 art 1 s 6
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 13 - 13C — Data Practices
Chapter 13 — Government Data Practices
Section 13.01 — Government Data.
Section 13.025 — Government Entity Obligation.
Section 13.03 — Access To Government Data.
Section 13.04 — Rights Of Subjects Of Data.
Section 13.045 — Safe At Home Program Participant Data.
Section 13.05 — Duties Of Responsible Authority.
Section 13.055 — Disclosure Of Breach In Security; Notification And Investigation Report Required.
Section 13.06 — Temporary Classification.
Section 13.07 — Duties Of Commissioner; Rules.
Section 13.072 — Opinions By The Commissioner.
Section 13.073 — Public Information Policy Training Program.
Section 13.08 — Civil Remedies.
Section 13.085 — Administrative Remedy.
Section 13.10 — Data On Decedents.
Section 13.15 — Computer Data.
Section 13.201 — Rideshare Data.
Section 13.202 — Political Subdivision Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.203 — Service Cooperative Claims Data.
Section 13.319 — Education Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.32 — Educational Data.
Section 13.321 — Prekindergarten To Grade 12 Educational Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.3215 — University Of Minnesota Data.
Section 13.322 — Postsecondary Education Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.34 — Examination Data.
Section 13.35 — Federal Contracts Data.
Section 13.355 — Social Security Numbers.
Section 13.356 — Personal Contact And Online Account Information.
Section 13.37 — General Nonpublic Data.
Section 13.3805 — Public Health Data.
Section 13.3806 — Public Health Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.381 — Health Regulatory Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.383 — Health Occupations Investigative Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.384 — Medical Data.
Section 13.386 — Treatment Of Genetic Information Held By Government Entities And Other Persons.
Section 13.387 — Health Care Contract Data.
Section 13.39 — Civil Investigation.
Section 13.392 — Internal Auditing Data.
Section 13.40 — Library And Historical Data.
Section 13.401 — Library And Historical Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.41 — Licensing Data.
Section 13.411 — Licensing Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.43 — Personnel Data.
Section 13.435 — Salary Benefit Survey Data.
Section 13.44 — Property Data.
Section 13.441 — Property Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.461 — Human Services Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.462 — Benefit Data.
Section 13.463 — Education Support Services Data.
Section 13.465 — Family And Domestic Relations Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.467 — Foster Care Data.
Section 13.47 — Employment And Training Data.
Section 13.485 — Corporation Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.487 — Trade Regulation And Consumer Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.495 — Lodging Tax Data.
Section 13.4961 — General Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4963 — Classification And Disclosure Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4965 — Property Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4967 — Other Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.51 — Assessor's Data.
Section 13.52 — Deferred Assessment Data.
Section 13.548 — Social Recreational Data.
Section 13.55 — Convention Center Data.
Section 13.552 — Human Rights Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.585 — Housing Agency Data.
Section 13.586 — Housing Agency Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.587 — Emergency Services For Homeless Persons; Private Data.
Section 13.59 — Housing And Redevelopment Data.
Section 13.591 — Business Data.
Section 13.598 — Employment And Economic Development Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.601 — Elected And Appointed Officials.
Section 13.602 — Elected And Appointed Official Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.605 — Legislative Data.
Section 13.606 — Legislative Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.607 — Campaign Finance, Public Disclosure, And Election Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.63 — Retirement Data.
Section 13.631 — Retirement Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.632 — Teachers Retirement Fund Association Data; Certain Cities.
Section 13.635 — General State Agency Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.64 — Administration; Management And Budget Data.
Section 13.6401 — Administration And Management And Budget Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.643 — Agricultural Data.
Section 13.6435 — Agricultural Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.65 — Attorney General Data.
Section 13.67 — Employee Relations Data.
Section 13.6705 — Employee Relations Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.679 — Public Utility Data.
Section 13.68 — Energy And Financial Data And Statistics.
Section 13.681 — Energy And Utilities Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.685 — Municipal Utility Customer Data.
Section 13.69 — Public Safety Department Data.
Section 13.6905 — Public Safety Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.711 — Department Of Commerce Data; Release Of Complaint To Respondent.
Section 13.712 — Commerce Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.713 — Banking Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.714 — Insurance Trust Data; Private And Nonpublic Data.
Section 13.715 — General Insurance Powers Data; Surplus Line Insurance.
Section 13.716 — General Insurance Powers Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.717 — Insurance; Health Care Cost Containment Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.719 — Miscellaneous Insurance Data.
Section 13.7191 — Miscellaneous Insurance Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.72 — Transportation Department Data.
Section 13.721 — Transportation Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.741 — Pollution Control; Environmental Quality Data.
Section 13.7411 — Pollution Control And Environmental Quality Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.745 — Pari-mutuel Horse Racing Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.746 — Gaming Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.785 — Veterans Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.79 — Department Of Labor And Industry Data.
Section 13.7905 — Labor And Industry Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.7908 — Bureau Of Mediation Services Data.
Section 13.791 — Rehabilitation Data.
Section 13.7911 — Bioprocess Piping And Equipment Data.
Section 13.792 — Private Donor Gift Data.
Section 13.793 — Natural Resource Data; Mineral Data.
Section 13.7931 — Natural Resource Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.7932 — Logger Safety And Education Program Data.
Section 13.80 — Domestic Abuse Data.
Section 13.805 — Address Confidentiality Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.82 — Comprehensive Law Enforcement Data.
Section 13.821 — Videotapes Of Child Abuse Victims.
Section 13.822 — Sexual Assault Data.
Section 13.823 — Domestic Abuse Or Sexual Assault Programs.
Section 13.824 — Automated License Plate Readers.
Section 13.825 — Portable Recording Systems.
Section 13.83 — Medical Examiner Data.
Section 13.84 — Court Services Data.
Section 13.841 — Court Services Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.85 — Corrections And Detention Data.
Section 13.851 — Corrections And Detention Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.854 — Release Of Arrested, Detained, Or Confined Person; Automated Notification Service.
Section 13.856 — Ombudsperson For Corrections; Data.
Section 13.86 — Investigative Detention Data.
Section 13.861 — Security Service Data.
Section 13.87 — Criminal Justice Data.
Section 13.871 — Criminal Justice Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.873 — Integrated Search Service Data Subject Access.
Section 13.875 — Juvenile Justice Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.876 — Foster Youth Ombudsperson; Data.
Section 13.88 — Community Dispute Resolution Center Data.
Section 13.89 — Dissemination Of Data To Protection And Advocacy Systems.